In class we discussed something called the Gerbner Theory. Our professor asked us what we thought this theory was. My first thought was that it would be about the idea that what people watch on TV and any other means of media would have a direct connection to how we act, such as becoming less violent because we fear what we see. My thought was somewhat correct, but not completely. The Gerbner Theory is based on the idea that heavy users of television would view the world as a more dangerous and violent place versus users who did not consume as much television.

I found this fascinating because it makes so much sense and I can’t believe I had not realized this before. There we studies done to test whether or not this theory was true and sure enough the heavy TV users’ answers said they were more scared of the world than light TV users.

I also think that what you watch has something to do with how you view the world as well. Speaking from personal experience I can say that since I began watching Criminal Minds I am more scared of things than I was before. There are all these terrifying stories of bad things happening to people that you could never imagine. After I watch the show I am more scared to sleep alone, or to walk back to my dorm in the dark, etc. This is because the show has scared me into thinking I need to be on alert 24/7. I don’t think that I would be as scared as I am if I had never started watching the show. Yet, I continue to watch it even though it scares me. Why? I have no idea.

Another topic discussed in class was the power of authority. One example that stuck out to me was the fast food manager strip searching a high school employee because someone on the phone was telling them to do so. Because the person on the phone claimed they were the police and of a high authority the manager felt as though she had to listen. The employee feared getting in trouble so she did what she was told. The entire scenario was crazy because I kept thinking that I would have never done those things even if someone was telling me to. But then I remember that I don’t really know how I would react because I was not there. It makes me wonder what people are truly capable of given a particular circumstance.

The last topic that was discussed in class was the Agenda Setting Theory. It measures “saliency”– is there a relationship between what we think and what the mass media says to us? I believe that there is a direct connection to our thoughts and what the media tells us. The media controls what they are showing us, when they show us, and how much of it they show. With this power they are able to make us, the viewer, think a certain thing. The more we hear about a topic the more likely that topic becomes important to us. There could be a major issue in the world that is never talked about so as the public we cannot say that it is even an issue. The media has too much power over public knowledge.